Appeture sites or scopes

I did state that there is a place for apperature sights, I just think a scope is capable of much the same and has a couple of extra benefits that out weigh the negatives. Mounting the apperature on the Marlin would be a great idea from a nostalgic view, I was going to make an offer to Jeff23 for his Marlin but other factors prevented me from doing so. I still am leaning towards mounting a peep sight on a Winchester 94 if I ever get one for myself, I saw an old style peep in a magazine a while back and really fell for the look. I also may mount one on my .375 H&H as a back up, I just don't know how the rear apperature may affect the use of the scope. If that is not possible, I'll have to have an express type sight installed. The July issue of Rifle magazine has a short article by John Barsness on why he is beginning to use open sights more often. I can't disagree with any of his reasons but my preference runs towards a scope. Of course few of my scopes have high magnification, a 6x24 on my .223 is tops followed by the Simmons. Two 3x9s and a 2x7 are next and then many 1.5x4.5 and 1.75x5s. I use a pistol scope on my 30/30 Marlin in a Scout rifle configuration, that is a fast set up for quick shooting. I have become a believer in this concept for quick pointing at close range. With both eyes open, it is as fast as pointing a pistol but much more accurate. It is not a set up for long range precision shooting but is an easy "minute of whitetail" in the gun's effective range.
Another negative to peep sights is that many modern rifles are no longer tapped for them and the cost of the sight and tapping can be rather expensive. I haven't looked lately but I don't think that my new model 336 is tapped for peep sights. The majority of rifles are tapped for scopes which can be mounted fairly inexpensively at home. uglydog

I admit I have a bias towards scopes which started when I was very young. I started shooting with open sights but was a very poor shot. I eventually "had" to have a scope and my shooting improved dramtically. A couple of years later, it was determined that I was very near sighted and that was a major reason for my poor initial shooting. Fortunately for me, I had learned how to use a scope in the most optimal manner rather than like most who use it as if it were a telescope. If I could have seen normally, I may have a very different opinion on scopes.
We have a 39A in the family, I may have to try a peep on it some day. It is my dad's and he has never used anything other than the original sights with the hooded front. He is not a believer in peep sights, his reasons are vague but I don't think he is comfortable looking through the ring. He and his brothers are the riflemen of the family, they shoot about everything from .17 cal up to .50 BMG and often compete in various venues. My tastes run towards shotguns and handguns but I do well enough to keep them from disowning me. uglydog

uglydog I too am a bit of a handgun nut,my wife just calls me a nut but I think it's very Important to be a specific nut,I own too many pistols,many I have never shot,I own several shotguns but I'm not the best shotgunner around.People I hunt with says,if he pulls the trigger,some thing hits the ground.I shot silloutte in the 70's and part of the 80's so when I shoot a handgun I usually hit the target.But I seem to have problems with shotgunning.People like to shoot against me unless it's pistols,I have a good day if I hit 70% of clays.I'm sure it's just some fundamental lacking on my part,and I have owned and still own a few good shotguns,My 870 is my favorite,but I hit better with a 12 guage bakial side by side.I owned a browning citori and could not wait to trade it in on a gun I can hit with,I only owned it for a month and shot less than 300 rounds and I could not hit 50%,I traded for a browning gold and same problem.I can't look down the barrel with my cheek against the stock,I have to pull my head back a few inches and I'm sure that throws me off.I need to be fitted by a gunsmith.If I ever get enough money put aside I will.But I find that side by sides are easier to sight with for me.Drop-Shot

Hey uglydog I just looked again to make sure buy in the Midway usa catalog I found the williamspeep sights and it says all marlin rifles and the price is right .They show the rear sold by itself for 32.95.But I would think that the front sight should be changed also ,so there is a kit front sight and rear.It looks like they are dove tailed,be carefull though cause some come out one way and the other goes in oppesite,Like the glock pistols.I've got a marlin 44 mag,35 rem,4570,22lr,3030 and any of those would work for these williams sights.It appears they bolt on the first 2 scope holes for the rear and dove tail for the front,we can do that,since I reinjured my back I may have the time to try it.I have to wait till I get enough money saved but thats a project I intend on doing.I'll keep my favorite dog and all my other friends up to date.Drop-Shot

Drop-Shot
I'm sorry to hear about your back pain, I hope you get to feeling better soon.I have two 45/70's myself but I don't have the cowboy.I have the 1895S and a 1895G {Marlins} in the 45/70.I had always thought the 45/70 kicked bad to.But with factory ammo they are not that bad.They have to keep the factory ammo loaded down to the old black powder pressure limits around {25,000 c.u.p.}.So the people with the older black powder models can use factory ammr maybe the factory ammo doesn't feel that bad to me because I have been shooting my reloads so long.Compared to my reloads kick, the factory ammo feels weak.The 1895 Marlin can safely be operated up to {40,000 c.u.p.} So if you reload there is a lot of room for improvement over factory loads.I hope you get to shoot that cowboy soon. :wink: DD 444